Comments on: Larry Schwarm http://mwcapacity.wordpress.com/2008/05/01/larry-schwarm/ A painter blog for no-coasters Mon, 14 Dec 2009 23:25:40 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Carla http://mwcapacity.wordpress.com/2008/05/01/larry-schwarm/#comment-1569 Carla Sun, 04 May 2008 20:43:23 +0000 http://mwcapacity.wordpress.com/?p=491#comment-1569 Joey, I really like your work. Joey, I really like your work.

]]> By: Carla http://mwcapacity.wordpress.com/2008/05/01/larry-schwarm/#comment-1568 Carla Sun, 04 May 2008 20:39:14 +0000 http://mwcapacity.wordpress.com/?p=491#comment-1568 They have me thinking too about what I want as a viewer and as a maker. I think of art as a fiction that, at its best, expands beyond its own framework and creates new reality/experience. This new experience is still of the fiction, but that framework becomes less important. I'm talking about breaking out of the "artist making art" intention. I don't think this work does this. They have me thinking too about what I want as a viewer and as a maker. I think of art as a fiction that, at its best, expands beyond its own framework and creates new reality/experience. This new experience is still of the fiction, but that framework becomes less important.

I’m talking about breaking out of the “artist making art” intention.

I don’t think this work does this.

]]> By: Joey Borovicka http://mwcapacity.wordpress.com/2008/05/01/larry-schwarm/#comment-1567 Joey Borovicka Sun, 04 May 2008 16:59:34 +0000 http://mwcapacity.wordpress.com/?p=491#comment-1567 My work lately has been about disasters and I like these photos a lot, but mostly as resource material. The disaster itself is what makes these so powerful, not the photographing of them. But in a case like this where the subject matter is so awesome, how does a photographer make the "art" of it compete? Also, there was a program on the <a href="http://planetgreen.discovery.com/tv/greensburg/" rel="nofollow">Discovery Channel</a> last night about this very town, one year later. Apparently they are rebuilding the town to be "green". It was an interesting show and had a lot of great tornado footage and simulations. My work lately has been about disasters and I like these photos a lot, but mostly as resource material. The disaster itself is what makes these so powerful, not the photographing of them. But in a case like this where the subject matter is so awesome, how does a photographer make the “art” of it compete? Also, there was a program on the Discovery Channel last night about this very town, one year later. Apparently they are rebuilding the town to be “green”. It was an interesting show and had a lot of great tornado footage and simulations.

]]> By: Sam K http://mwcapacity.wordpress.com/2008/05/01/larry-schwarm/#comment-1566 Sam K Sun, 04 May 2008 16:58:41 +0000 http://mwcapacity.wordpress.com/?p=491#comment-1566 Hi Kristin. There is a pretty established tradition for making art out of our traumas (fears, anxieties, losses, etc). I'd agree that exploitative isn't the right word. Even if they lean in that direction, they offer more than a rubbernecking opportunity. I tend to like art that makes me contemplate/question my own wants as a viewer, and this is that. Hi Kristin.

There is a pretty established tradition for making art out of our traumas (fears, anxieties, losses, etc). I’d agree that exploitative isn’t the right word. Even if they lean in that direction, they offer more than a rubbernecking opportunity.

I tend to like art that makes me contemplate/question my own wants as a viewer, and this is that.

]]> By: Kristin Musgnug http://mwcapacity.wordpress.com/2008/05/01/larry-schwarm/#comment-1564 Kristin Musgnug Sat, 03 May 2008 21:28:29 +0000 http://mwcapacity.wordpress.com/?p=491#comment-1564 Hi all, lurker turned new poster here. I disagree completely that these are exploitative - a little sentimental, maybe, but Greensburg was his home town. They do seem contemplative to me, or rather, something less detached than that. I have to admit that knowing this was his town changes them for me. There is both the stunned gaze of the survivor in these as well as a sense of the visual feast it provides the photographer. The sense of small scale tragedies is definitely there in some of them, but there is also a voyeuristic thing about looking into people's intimate living places, as well as a sense of American culture exposed, or at least a regional flavor of American culture. Compare to Robert Polidori's Katrina photos. Hi all, lurker turned new poster here.
I disagree completely that these are exploitative – a little sentimental, maybe, but Greensburg was his home town. They do seem contemplative to me, or rather, something less detached than that. I have to admit that knowing this was his town changes them for me. There is both the stunned gaze of the survivor in these as well as a sense of the visual feast it provides the photographer.
The sense of small scale tragedies is definitely there in some of them, but there is also a voyeuristic thing about looking into people’s intimate living places, as well as a sense of American culture exposed, or at least a regional flavor of American culture. Compare to Robert Polidori’s Katrina photos.

]]> By: Chris http://mwcapacity.wordpress.com/2008/05/01/larry-schwarm/#comment-1563 Chris Sat, 03 May 2008 14:58:51 +0000 http://mwcapacity.wordpress.com/?p=491#comment-1563 I agree completely with your analysis, though maybe not with your assessment. I think these photos, being aestheticized, being formalized, as they are, become contemplations rather than documents. I'm responding to them more as about small scale tragedies; the frailty of banal and domestic accumulation. To me a really relevant comparison might be Mike Kelley's stuffed animals laid out on cafeteria tables. Maybe it's sentimental, maybe it's exploitative. I think all these questions are legitimate. I'm curious, because I know that some of the regulars here have made works dealing with large-scale tragedies. How have any of you thought about this stuff? I agree completely with your analysis, though maybe not with your assessment. I think these photos, being aestheticized, being formalized, as they are, become contemplations rather than documents. I’m responding to them more as about small scale tragedies; the frailty of banal and domestic accumulation. To me a really relevant comparison might be Mike Kelley’s stuffed animals laid out on cafeteria tables.

Maybe it’s sentimental, maybe it’s exploitative. I think all these questions are legitimate.

I’m curious, because I know that some of the regulars here have made works dealing with large-scale tragedies. How have any of you thought about this stuff?

]]> By: Carla http://mwcapacity.wordpress.com/2008/05/01/larry-schwarm/#comment-1557 Carla Sat, 03 May 2008 13:21:01 +0000 http://mwcapacity.wordpress.com/?p=491#comment-1557 They're art photos of a disaster. Rather than document, these use the scene as raw material for a visual experience which is disengaged from the tragedy. The real horror is denied; it's not merely obscured, it's voided in these photos. The subject matter is leaned on heavily in one sense, but it's also obliterated in real terms. They’re art photos of a disaster. Rather than document, these use the scene as raw material for a visual experience which is disengaged from the tragedy. The real horror is denied; it’s not merely obscured, it’s voided in these photos.

The subject matter is leaned on heavily in one sense, but it’s also obliterated in real terms.

]]> By: Sam K http://mwcapacity.wordpress.com/2008/05/01/larry-schwarm/#comment-1555 Sam K Fri, 02 May 2008 22:15:49 +0000 http://mwcapacity.wordpress.com/?p=491#comment-1555 I hadn't thought they were kitschy. I do have a sort of mixed emotional response...attracted to the way it looks, but repulsed by what it means (predictably). There are some strangely light-hearted moments, though. They're well composed (or, I guess, framed, since the upshot is rather documentary). I'm not sure they'd be improved by being less 'subject matter'ed... I hadn’t thought they were kitschy.

I do have a sort of mixed emotional response…attracted to the way it looks, but repulsed by what it means (predictably). There are some strangely light-hearted moments, though.

They’re well composed (or, I guess, framed, since the upshot is rather documentary). I’m not sure they’d be improved by being less ’subject matter’ed…

]]> By: Chris http://mwcapacity.wordpress.com/2008/05/01/larry-schwarm/#comment-1554 Chris Fri, 02 May 2008 20:16:44 +0000 http://mwcapacity.wordpress.com/?p=491#comment-1554 i think that hits on the questions I have about these photos --- it seems like again there is potential for leaning on subject matter too much, which would for me diminish the actual impact. not a lot of responses so far, are other folks finding them kitschy? i think that hits on the questions I have about these photos — it seems like again there is potential for leaning on subject matter too much, which would for me diminish the actual impact. not a lot of responses so far, are other folks finding them kitschy?

]]> By: Sam K http://mwcapacity.wordpress.com/2008/05/01/larry-schwarm/#comment-1553 Sam K Fri, 02 May 2008 15:02:58 +0000 http://mwcapacity.wordpress.com/?p=491#comment-1553 It's like the landscape equivalent of violent crime scene photos. It’s like the landscape equivalent of violent crime scene photos.

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